Cincinnati placed on probation

Women’s basketball, football cited for illegal calls to recruits

CINCINNATI -- The NCAA placed Cincinnati on two years of probation Thursday for violating rules on calling recruits in its women's basketball and football programs.

The NCAA said the university discovered the improper calls and reported them. The NCAA infractions committee found a major violation in women's basketball and secondary ones in football and women's basketball.

The university said the NCAA accepted its self-imposed sanctions, which it has completed. They include restrictions on making calls to recruits during certain periods and on the size of the women's basketball staff and its recruiters this season.

The NCAA said a former women's basketball assistant coach made 176 improper calls to prospective players, their relatives or legal guardians; other staff members made 24 improper calls. Football staffers made 20 improper calls. Cincinnati said the major violation case came in June 2009-November 2010.

Cincinnati said it discovered the major violation in late November 2010 during an audit of all sports conducted, and reported improper calls to the NCAA at the beginning of 2011. The NCAA said the case was resolved through a cooperative process called a summary disposition.

Cincinnati said in a statement that it cooperated fully and that the former women's basketball assistant was fired after the improper calls were discovered. Coaches weren't identified.

University President Gregory Williams said in the statement that it is the school's policy to be ethical and to adhere to NCAA rules.

"In this or any NCAA compliance matter, I expect UC to be up front, honest and accountable," Williams said.